French Baked Potatoes : What's the difference between dauphinoise and gratin?

Jun 02, 2022

 

 

French baked potatoes are a popular appetizer or snack in many cultures. This dish is commonly called "Pommes fries" in French, translating literally to "fried potatoes." There are many different ways to make and serve the potato dish.

French baked potatoes can be made from whole potatoes or small potato cubes that have been fried in oil. They can also be served in various ways, such as with melted cheese, meat, or vegetables. The French have perfected this recipe over time to create a delicacy that is enjoyed worldwide.

  • Baked French fries are not just for snacking on; they are pretty filling, so it's easy to make a meal out of them. Many people like to turn them into a meal by adding cheese and other toppings, such as bacon bits or vegetable toppings. They can also be served as an accompaniment to eggs and toast for breakfast or sandwiches during lunchtime.
  • French-style baked potato chips are made by slicing raw potatoes half lengthwise and then frying them in hot oil until they become golden brown. They are then sprinkled with salt and pepper before being served.

Do the French eat baked potatoes?

Baked potatoes are part of the French diet, but they are rarely eaten in their own right. The most common way to eat baked potatoes is to accompany another dish.

Baked potatoes can be served as a side dish or used in other recipes. Baked potatoes may be topped with butter, salt, and pepper and eaten plain. They can also be cut up and added to soups or stews.

  • They eat more than baked potatoes - they eat all sorts of potatoes.
  • They eat them mashed, boiled, fried, and in various dishes, such as potato salad and gratin dauphinois.

And when it comes to mashes, they cover all their bases there too. They have a lot of different types of mashes: pommes purée (mashed with milk), pommes Boulangère (mashed with onions), pommes Parisienne (tiny balls of mashed potato), and pommes Duchesse (mashed with egg).

The dish that is perhaps most associated with French cuisine is pommes fries - or fried chips as we know them in Britain. They are usually served with steak fries as a side dish or on their own with mayonnaise for dipping.

Difference between Potato Dauphinoise and Gratin

  1. Dauphinoise potatoes are made in a gratin dish, and they're creamy inside with a golden crust on top.
  2. A gratin is any dish, sweet or savory, topped with cheese or breadcrumbs and a browned crust. Both dishes have cream and cheese, but the ratio differs: Dauphinoise has more cream for a richer taste, while gratins include more cheese to create a crisper crust.
  3. The difference is mainly about the proportions of ingredients. A gratin can be made with just about any vegetable – potatoes, cauliflower, and squash – plus some starchy binder (usual flour) and grated cheese. A Dauphinoise has the same elements (potatoes plus cream plus cheese) but more of them; it's also baked at a lower temperature so that the potatoes cook through without becoming too crunchy on top.
  4. Gratins are made in shallow baking dishes; Dauphinoise is layered in deep baking dishes (often called "gratins"), which is why some people call all such words "gratins."

Baked Potatoes are healthy

Baked potatoes are a healthy alternative to French fries. They are low in calories, high in fiber, and contain many nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy. You can bake or roast them, which is more beneficial than deep-frying. You can even make baked potato chips, which are low-calorie and nutritious.

  • Baked potatoes contain plenty of nutrients and vitamins. They have a lot of potassium, which is good for your heart. Potassium helps lower blood pressure. 
  • Baked potatoes also have Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and magnesium. These vitamins help make your skin glow and keep it soft and smooth. Magnesium helps your heart function properly by regulating blood pressure and preventing irregular heartbeats.
  • Baked potatoes have zero cholesterol, making them great for anyone on a diet or with high cholesterol levels. 
  • They are also gluten-free, which means they do not contain any wheat or other grains that can cause an allergic reaction in some people with celiac disease or wheat allergies.

Baked potatoes are an excellent snack alternative for kids who come home from school hungry but don't want to ruin their dinner appetites with snacks like chips or candy bars before dinner time rolls around later on in the evening hours when families typically sit down together too.

Freezing the Baked Potatoes

Baked potatoes can be frozen, but there are some things you need to know to make sure your baked potato is as close to fresh baked as possible.

First, the potato needs to be cooked thoroughly. Overcooked is not an issue since it will be reheated but undercooked is. You want the potato to be tender, which means that the inside should be soft and moist and no longer starchy.

The outside needs to be dry before freezing, or mold can form on the potato while in storage. To achieve this, let the potato cool entirely after cooking, and then gently pat dry with a paper towel or clean kitchen towel. The skin will wrinkle a bit, but this is okay, and it won't change the flavor of the potato or its texture once reheated.

Once both the inside and outside are ready for storage, you need to wrap them tightly for freezing. This will keep out freezer burn and keep moisture from evaporating from the potato, causing it to become dry during storage. It will also help prevent freezer odors from transferring into your baked potatoes.

To wrap, place each cooled baked potato on a large square of aluminum foil, then wrap tightly and secure with a twist tie or tape (freezer tape works well). Then place into a Ziploc bag and.

 

 

French Baked Potatoes : What's the difference between dauphinoise and gratin?

 

 

Can baked potatoes be reheated?

Baked potatoes can be reheated in the oven, on the stovetop, in the microwave, or even over a campfire! If you're reheating baked potatoes on the stovetop or in the oven, you'll want first to preheat it. Then place your potatoes on a baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes.

If you're reheating baked potatoes in the microwave, put them in a microwave-safe container with a lid and microwave for 2 minutes and then check. Continue microwaving at 30-second intervals until they're hot all the way through.

If you've got leftover baked potatoes and want to try something different, we have plenty of suggestions for other ways to use them:

You can make potato cakes by mashing up baked potatoes with cheese and an egg. Form into patties and fry until browned.


Leftover mashed potatoes are great for making potato pancakes. Just add a bit of flour and an egg to help bind them together, and then fry them up!

Baked potato skins make a great appetizer or snack. Fill with bacon, cheese, and sour cream for an easy party dish!


What goes with baked potatoes?

Baked potatoes are a great side dish for any meal. However, it's essential to make sure you're serving them with something that will complement the flavors. Some of the best things to serve with baked potatoes include:

  • Steak
  • Coleslaw
  • Cheese
  • Salad
  • Sour cream
  • Chili

The biggest challenge with baked potatoes is what to serve them with. If you're serving a steak, it's an easy compliment. But if you want to serve something heartier, like pot roast, they may not be the best choice — although they are a side dish that can complement any meal.

A baked potato is a good source of fiber, but it lacks the protein and fat that make you feel full. So if your goal is to put together a quick and easy meal for yourself or a crowd, keep in mind that you'll need to provide some other side dishes as well.

Choosing your toppings for baked potatoes

You can have fun with this part when serving baked potatoes as a side dish or appetizer. People can top their potatoes with many different ingredients, and you can choose from the classic (sour cream and chives) to creative mixes like bacon and cheddar cheese or broccoli and Swiss cheese.

You can also use toppings to turn your baked potatoes into an entrée. For example, top-loaded potatoes with chili, barbecue pulled pork, or chicken Alfredo.

Baked potatoes with cheese

It's the ultimate comfort food, but it's also packed with fat and calories. The good news is that with a few simple tweaks, you can turn the potato from a dietary demon to a diet allied.

  • Instead of topping your potato with butter or margarine, use cottage cheese, and it's packed with protein and has less fat than butter.
  • Use low-fat sour cream instead of full-fat.
  • Replace bacon bits with a few lean Canadian bacon or ham slices.
  • Top your potato with salsa instead of cheese sauce; salsa is low in calories, high in fiber, and packed with flavor and nutrients.

Fillings for baked potatoes 

Baked potatoes are so easy and tasty. They're a great side dish for any meal, from dinner to lunch or even breakfast.

There's something so satisfying about a hot baked potato with your favorite toppings. If you're looking for different ideas for toppings other than the standard sour cream and butter.

Here are delicious fillings for baked potatoes.

1) Bacon & Cheese: Crumble-cooked bacon and top with shredded cheese. Place under the broiler to melt the cheese.

2) Chili & Cheese: Top with chili and shredded cheese. Place under the broiler to melt the cheese.

3) Barbecue Chicken: Mix shredded chicken with your favorite barbecue sauce and top over the potato, then sprinkle with chopped green onions.

4) Broccoli & Cheese: Steam broccoli florets, and then top with shredded cheese. Place under the broiler to melt the cheese.

5) Loaded Baked Potato: Top with sour cream, cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, and chives.

6) Broccoli Beef: Top with leftover beef stir fry or beef and broccoli (minus the rice).

7) Chili Cream Cheese: Mix together softened cream cheese and chili sauce until smooth

A baked potato can be a meal in itself or a side dish for meat, poultry, or seafood, and it's a versatile dish that's easy to prepare.

It's best to use russet potatoes, and they have high starch content, so they are light, fluffy, and dry when baked.

Potatoes can be scrubbed and baked whole in their skins or cut into chunks or slices and baked. Baked chunks can be served as a side dish or mashed to make mashed potatoes.

The cooking time depends on the size of the potato, its shape, and whether it's preheated before baking.

Stuffed baked potatoes 

Stuffed baked potatoes are a great way to use leftover potatoes or vegetable scraps. Instead of throwing them away, you can turn them into a delicious meal. Stuffed baked potatoes are also a great way to get your kids excited about vegetables. Your kids will love the taste, and you'll love how easy they are to make.

Even though stuffed baked potatoes take time to bake, they're really easy to make. All you have to do is scoop out the insides of the potatoes and mash them with other ingredients. Then all you have left to do is stuff the mashed potato mix back in the skins and pop them in the oven!

First, there's the filling: 

  • A savoury mix of cream cheese, sour cream, chicken stock and buttermilk. It's rich and tangy, sort of like the skin of a potato that you might scrape off after it's baked (because that's what we all do naturally with our spuds). But this is so much better than that. The texture is creamy and luxurious, almost like whipped butter or something you'd use as frosting on a cake.
  • But it doesn't stop there. First, this filling is topped with cheddar cheese and bacon bits; then, the entire thing is wrapped in foil and baked until everything melts together into one glorious amalgam of starch and dairy products.

Baked potatoes are one of the ultimate comfort foods. They're so simple to make, and there are an endless number of toppings you can enjoy on them.

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